DIY: Custom Light Control for Tesla Factory Offroad Lightbar and/ or Aftermarket

[mongo]

@T Sportline needs to buy these from you

I'd say they need their supplier to integrate the functionality into the Tesla Cybertruck Auxiliary Power 48v-to-12v Voltage Conversion System.
Or make a new multi-segment lightbar.
It's not really an advantage for a single on/off system.

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[hemiarch]

I'd say they need their supplier to integrate the functionality into the Tesla Cybertruck Auxiliary Power 48v-to-12v Voltage Conversion System.
Or make a new multi-segment lightbar.
It's not really an advantage for a single on/off system.

I love the aforementioned xkglow idea. That adds more functionality than even the factory bar because of the color potential.
The xkglow doesn’t have ditch lights though I don’t think and the interface does.

 

[mongo]

I love the aforementioned xkglow idea. That adds more functionality than even the factory bar because of the color potential.
The xkglow doesn’t have ditch lights though I don’t think and the interface does.

Yeah, I looked at xkglow. The main light looks like a single segment. If so, the only adjustability without teardown is controlling the RGB section, and there are more options out there for multicolor light strips.

 

[hemiarch]

Yeah, I looked at xkglow. The main light looks like a single segment. If so, the only adjustability without teardown is controlling the RGB section, and there are more options out there for multicolor light strips.

I guess you could have the “ditch” button turn the color drl part on and off

 

[mongo]

I guess you could have the “ditch” button turn the color drl part on and off

Oh, you can do more. Using the brightness slider, you could change which part of the bar was lit, or the color.

 

[mitch9]

looking for a few weeks the xkglow is the only bluetooth controllable lightbar availble for the Cybertruck, which makes it a good candidate to integrate with your ESP32/LIN bus interface, to see what's possible... Until manufacturers integrate LIN BUS control into their Cybertruck lightbars (may never happen, since it's such a small market). People who already own the xkglow, and of course dual motor Cybertruck owners who can't buy the Tesla OEM lightbar, because it was $2,500 when they offered it briefly, and now it's unobtainium would be interested.. None of the other lightbars have more than simple on/off control, and really can't do much with the lightshow... even if they where intergated to the LIN bus for on/off control.

 

[mongo]

looking for a few weeks the xkglow is the only bluetooth controllable lightbar availble for the Cybertruck, which makes it a good candidate to integrate with your ESP32/LIN bus interface, to see what's possible... Until manufacturers integrate LIN BUS control into their Cybertruck lightbars (may never happen, since it's such a small market). People who already own the xkglow, and of course dual motor Cybertruck owners who can't buy the Tesla OEM lightbar, because it was $2,500 when they offered it briefly, and now it's unobtainium would be interested.. None of the other lightbars have more than simple on/off control, and really can't do much with the lightshow... even if they where intergated to the LIN bus for on/off control.

The Bluetooth controller is done by a separate control module. Theoretically, that could be replaced with the LIN interface rather that needing to bridge LIN to BLE.
The new module could then simulate the original for app control. Otherwise there's a control issue if app and LIN are both trying to control the light bar.

 

[mitch9]

Yes, you could replace their controller with yours. Of course that involves more expense and work than controlling it via Bluetooth. You would have to get into their controllers interface to the lightbar and figure out what they are sending it and how.. They are probably using a variant of WLED to control the RGBW portion, and may have a simple on/off for the main part.. hard to say until you get into it, also requires building a new or modifying their wiring harness. I'm sure it's all possible, and they might even be interested in it, if it's controllable via the factory screen (at least for 2 or 3 functions, as that is all that the orignal OEM model could do). Bluetooth is the minimally invasive, lower cost method to experiment with it. LIN bus control could be prioritized over app control, which is what you'd want in a lightshow.

WLED project: https://kno.wled.ge/

 

[T Sportline]

@T Sportline needs to buy these from you

We can very easily make light bar's remote control. We have those kits now. I am not exactly following what the point is here - you can already turn our light bar on/off using the center screen control.

 

[mitch9]

I like what you've done to make it removable, and storable in the bed.. We are talking about replicating the OEM factory lightbar, so the Cybertruck is aware it exists, then you have more than simple "on/off" control, you can switch on the main center segment, and/or the ditch lights.

Mongo has an interface to the yellow wire (LIN bus) and he is emulating the messages/control on it, to give multiple outputs to 3rd partylight bars.. of course it helps if they have multiple, controllable segments, which is why we are discussing a bluetooth controllable version here.

The point of all of this is so that the Tesla lightshows work, by making the truck able to turn on and off each segment.

https://tsportline.com/collections/...p-quick-disconnect-kit?variant=50702725120289

Mitch

 

[hemiarch]

We can very easily make light bar's remote control. We have those kits now. I am not exactly following what the point is here - you can already turn our light bar on/off using the center screen control.

There appears be a desire for people to control at least brightness and dual functions like ditch/flood or white/amber or roof/something else from the cool Tesla screen interface as well as not disable the light show ability of the lightbar by going aftermarket.
Since I’m a loyal long term customer of
yours and I’ve also been to this movie a couple times in other threads, before you hit me with the “our product is screen controllable” response, by cool interface I don’t mean the roof or funk power on/off toggle. I mean the whole fun beast bar control. Yes; any of your bars can be controlled from the screen, but not like this.
Some of those people that are interested in doing that may also be t-sportline customers so might at least be worth exploring?
I’m not saying that I’m one of those people just that this is likely the “point”.

 

[FarAway]

Well done, Mongo, great thread.

So, without reading (and understanding) everything, could the Tesla lightbar be made to emulate standard roof top running lights as seen on a large pickup truck? Which would also be highway legal... and then with the flip of a switch turned back into the Tesla offroad flood lights?

Now that would be awesome!

 

[rudedawg78]

Tesla lightbar communication is controlled by a pair of LIN messages sent at 10ms intervals.
Control:
ID: 0x0A
Length: 8 bytes
Data: six values 0-100, packed at 10 bits each



Status:
ID: 0x0B
Length: 5 bytes
Data: temperature, voltage, and other status
However, you can respond with zeros and the truck accepts it as proof of life.

Diagnostics:
ID: 0x3C 0x3D
Length: 8 bytes
Data: various propriety including software version
Truck will complain if these are ignored, but still allows the UI to function.

Here's an Amazon list of the parts needed to make your own 2 output controller:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/36PX96UY981FV?ref_=wl_share

One DCDC converter provides 5V to the ESP32 via the 5V pin (the listed module diode ORs it with the USB feed, others don't). The second is set for 15V to power the LIN transceiver.

If your micro is 3.3V (like the ESP32), you should remove the 5V pullup resistors (R4, R6) from the LIN transceiver board (but mine survived with them).

Parts handy for development and testing: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3N0GP3YZM3SFZ?ref_=wl_share

Using a second LIN transceiver, you can control the lightbar directly allowing custom patterns instead of just dimming levels.

 

[mongo]

Well done, Mongo, great thread.

So, without reading (and understanding) everything, could the Tesla lightbar be made to emulate standard roof top running lights as seen on a large pickup truck? Which would also be highway legal... and then with the flip of a switch turned back into the Tesla offroad flood lights?

Now that would be awesome!

If you made a motorized cover that flipped over the lightbar and had amber cutouts on the front as well as red clearance lights in the rear to complete the set, yes?
You'd probably be better off just having the motorized cover hide the lightbar when inactive.

 

[T Sportline]

There appears be a desire for people to control at least brightness and dual functions like ditch/flood or white/amber or roof/something else from the cool Tesla screen interface as well as not disable the light show ability of the lightbar by going aftermarket.
Since I’m a loyal long term customer of
yours and I’ve also been to this movie a couple times in other threads, before you hit me with the “our product is screen controllable” response, by cool interface I don’t mean the roof or funk power on/off toggle. I mean the whole fun beast bar control. Yes; any of your bars can be controlled from the screen, but not like this.
Some of those people that are interested in doing that may also be t-sportline customers so might at least be worth exploring?
I’m not saying that I’m one of those people just that this is likely the “point”.

Yes, that makes sense. It’s harder than it seams.

FYI - The challenge with making things that run on the Tesla LIN is they become subject to OTA update obsolescence - we run into this often with our screens and head / tail lights; then we race to make new firmware or modules to keep those products functioning.

that said, that’s cool if someone makes a module to control using the screen - just be aware it’s subject to ota risks.

on the rooftop light bar, yes ours is a simple on/off function, bur our focus was on lighting performance / output. The TSportline light bar annihilates the Tesla (and other) light bars in that regard. So for those that are off-roading at night, it’s unmatched. Plus, no LIN ota update risks.

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